Insulating support



Dec. 3, 1929.

INSULATING SUPPORT Filed June 21, 19271 s. H. LA'NYON 1,738,188

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL HERBERT LANYON, or OAKLAND, CALiFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T LArr rnsomron 00., or LE nor, NEW YonK INSULATING SUPPORT Application filed June 21,

This invention relates to insulating supports of that type used for electrical conductors and it is more especially an improvement upon the means whereby the insulating and the metal portions of the support can be readily and efiiciently connected.

The invention also has for its object the simplification of devices of this type and a consequent reduction in cost of production.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement .of partsand in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made. within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. p

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of an insulator having the present improvements combined therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through a portion of the structure on the line 2-2, Figure 1. h

Figure 3 is an elevation of a retaining rlng or key prior to expansion .or distention.

Figure 4 is a section through a portion of the support taken on the line 14, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section through the lower portion of the eye boltshown in Figure 1, the same being illustrated as coupled to a clevis a part of which is shown.

' Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of a modified form of key.

Figure 7 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the insulating support, two positions of the cooperating parts being illustrated by full lines and dotted lines respectively.

Figure 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of another form of insulating support including the presentimprovements.

Referring to the figures by characters of 1927. Serial N'o. 200,439.

reference 1 designates an insulator of porcelain or other suitable material which, in the structure illustrated in Figure 1, is provided with the usual knob-like portion 2. An ans nular groove 3 is provided at the base of the knob-like portion 2 to form a neck and where the knob portion projects outwardly from the neck, there is provided another annular groove 4 the wall of which is curved to pro vide an annular seat as shown particularly in Flgui'e 7. This groove 4 provides an annular rib Whch projects outwardly a very slight distance from the innermost portion of the groove 4. This will be clearly apparent by referring to Figure 7. A recess 6 is extended into the insulator 1 and is provided, near its inner end, with a groove 7 extending therearound. This groove is adapted to receive a key which can be in the form of a split ring 8 made up of twisted wire strands as shown in Figure 1 or the split ring can be formed of a metal tube, a solid rod, or segmental sections. In any case'the ring is adapted to be inserted into the recess 6 and then distended so as to be seated in the groove 7. When the ring isinserted into the recess it is generally in spiral form as shown in Figure 3, the ring subsequently assuming circular form when distended to position with its ends abutting. After this ring or key has been seated in the groove 7 a thimble 9 formed of soft metal or other preferred material is inserted into the recess 6 and thereafter, by means of a suitable tool, the innermost portion of this thimble is expanded, as at 10 so as to extend over or back of the ring 8. Following this procedure a shank, which can be in the form of a bolt 11, a stranded cable, a solid wire or the like is inserted into the thimble. It is essential that the end of the shank in the thimble be provided with an enlargement or head 12 from which one or more fins l3 radiate. Following the insertion of the shank into the thimble a suitable filling material 14 of molten metal or sulphur, etc. is poured into the thimble so as to completely fill the space between the thimble and the shank.

Consequently the shank will be properly ing it from rotating relative thereto. If a bolt is used as a shank the same can be provided with an eye 15 for insertion into a clevis 16 as shown in Figure 5 whereby a coupling pin can be inserted transversely through the eye and clevis as indicated at 17. This pin has its head 18 preferably eccentrically arranged so as to facilitate convenient insertion and withdrawal of the pin even though the eye 15 should be close to or extended up to the plane occupied by the adjacent end of the insulator. For the purpose of holding the pin 17 against accidental withdrawal, an opening 19 may be extended through one end thereof to receive a cotter pin or the like.

The knob 2 of the insulator is provided with a metal cap 20 flared toward one end, the large end 21 of this cap being inturned. The small end of the cap extends over and around an annular skirt 22 extending from the base 23 of a clevis 24. This clevis, including the base 23, the skirt 22 and spaced apertured ears 25 can be formed of a single drop forging or casting and can be inserted into the cap 20 through the large end thereof so as to fit snugly within the small end of the cap after which the skirt and cap can be connected in any preferred manner, as by means of spot welding. It is to be understood that any other equivalent means for connecting the clevis to the skirt can be employed within the scope of this invention. A radial opening 26 can be formed in. the lapping portions of the skirt and the cap as shown in Figure 4c- In assembling the cap 20 with the insulator a key 27, which can be in the form of a split ring is sprung over the knob 2 and about the neck 3 or is wrapped about the neck. This key can be made of twisted metal cable, of a metal tube, or of segments of metal or other material adapted to fit about the neck as shown at a in Figure 7. If preferred the ring can be formed of tubular segments 28 connected at their ends by plugs 29 having collars 30 extending between the segments but these connections can be dispensed with if desired. Obviously various other constructions of ring can be utilized. After the ring has been placed about the neck the cap 20 is slipped onto the knob 2. As the smallest internal diameter of the large end of the cap 20 is slightl greater than the greatest diameter of the nob 2 and also of the ring 27 when said ring is seated about the neck as shown at a in Figure 7, it will be apparent that the cap can be brought to such position on the knob that the ring 27 can be expanded outwardly to position within the cap 20 and in engagement with the inturned portion 21 thereof. When the parts are thus located the base 23 of the clevis rests on the knob. Thereafter the cap 20 is pulled along the knob so as to shift the engaged ring 27 and move it past the slight rib 5 into the shallow being shiftable relative to t groove 4. With this ring thus moved into place further relative movement of the cap 20 in an upward direction as viewed in Figure 1 will be prevented. Thereafter, for the pur ose of holding the cap against retrogra e movement, a pin 31 can be inserted through the opening 26 into the space between the knob 2 and the base 23 after which, by means of a punch or the like, the opening 26 can be contracted to prevent escape of the pin. The pin can be mounted freely within the space provided and no matter to what position it may move therein it will always hold the parts properly spaced and maintain the inturned portion 21 of the cap properly held against the ring 27.

It is to be understood that any means other than that described can be used for holding the cap in the position to which it has been shifted relative to the knob. Furthermore the materials employed in the construction of the rings or keys located inside and outside of the insulator can be varied at will, it merely being essential to use materials having the requisite strength and lasting qualities and capable of insertion in the ways described.

Although the improvements have been shown applied to one type of insulator as illustrated in Figure 1, it is to be understood that the same means for mounting the cap can be used where an insulator of the type illustrated in Figure 8 is utilized. In this form of insulator oppositely extending knobs 32 and 33 are employed instead of a single knob and each of these knobs is engaged by a cap 34 of the same construction as that heretofore described. Ina device of this type, however, one of the caps can be provided with a clevis 35 while the other cap can be provided with an integral tang 36. In either case, however, the parts are assembled in the same manner as heretofore pointed out.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an insulator having a knob, there being annular grooves in the knob separated by an intermediate annular rib, of a key seated in one of the grooves, a cap embracing the knob and key, said cap having an inturned end portion, the key being expansible into position within the cap where it will lap the inturned end portion, said cap being shiftable relative to the knob to carry the key over the rib and into the other groove.

2. The combination with an insulator having a knob, there being annular grooves in the knob separated by an intermediate annular rib, of a key seated in one of the grooves, a cap embracing the knob and key, said cap having an intured end portion, the key being expansible into position within the cap where it will lap the inturned end ortion, said cap fie knob to carry the key over the rib and into the other groove andmeans insertable between the knob and cap for holding the cap and key in shifted position.

3. The combination with an insulator having a knob and superposed annular grooves at the base of the knob, said grooves being of difl'erent depths and being spaced apart by an annular rib, of a key embracing the knob and seated in one of the grooves, a cap movable on to the knob having an inturned portion for engaging and supporting the key, said cap being shiftable relative to the knob to move the key past the rib into the other groove to hold the cap and knob 'against'relative movement in one direction, and means insertable between the cap and knob for holding them against relative movement in the opposite direction.

4. The combination with an insulator in cluding a knob and superposed grooves in the base portion of the knob,said grooves being separated by an annular rib, of a'cap having an inturned end portion for the reception of the knob, a substantially circular key seated in one of the grooves and expansible into engagement with the inturned portion of the cap, said cap being shiftable axially of the knob to force the key past the rib and into the other groove, thereby to hold the cap and knob against relative movementin one di-- rection.

5. The combination with an insulator having a knob and superposed grooves at the base of the knob, of a support including a plate and a skirt embracing the plate at one end and having its other end mturned, a substantially circular key seated in one of the ooves and adapted to be surrounded by t e inturned portion of the skirt, said key being expansible into. engagement with the said inturned portion, said support constituting means for shifting the key from one groove into the other during axial movement of the support in one direction relative to the knob, thereby to limit the relative movement of the support and knob in one direction, and means insertable between the knob and the plate of the support for holding the skirt and knob against relative movement in the opposite direction.

- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

SAMUEL HERBERT LANYON. 

